All posts by Shonette

Bristol-based Shonette Laffy is a regular blogger on lifestyle and the food scene in the region

Bristol Food & Drink: February 2025

It’s my first guide of 2025, and I don’t know about you but I’m fired up for another year of good eating and drinking!

Read on to find out what’s opening this month, where you can celebrate Valentine’s Day, or where you can just enjoy a good munch. Let me know over on Instagram  where you decide to go!

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A short break in: Málaga

Spain is my favourite country to visit, and I’ve seen a few different parts of it now, from the green mountains of Galicia and dramatic coastline of the Basque Country to the heat of Madrid and beautiful beaches of the Balearics. I’ve now made a few trips to the lovely city of Málaga on the Costa del Sol, so thought it was worth sharing some of my tips!

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Bristol Food & Drink: 2024 Highlights

It’s been a while, but the highlights list is back! These have always been some of my favourite blog posts to put together – not only is it nice to get some top tips on where to eat from local chefs, landlords, writers and tour guides, but it’s also such a nice way to end the year, seeing Bristol businesses celebrating each other.

I hope you’ll find a few places to add to your list for next year from the picks below, whether it’s a new place or a longtime favourite of one of the contributors. I’ve even put my picks in for the first time, but you’ll have to scroll down a way for those!

If you’ve enjoyed the guides this year, there’s the option to buy me a glass of wine to say cheers – thank you to the folks who have this year, I’m genuinely chuffed whenever I get a notification!

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Bristol Food & Drink: December 2024

Welcome to chilly December! This month is a slightly abridged guide, as I know most of you have too many appointments already, or don’t want to leave the comfort of your sofa.

If you’re looking for some last minute food-related gift ideas, I have tons on my Bristol Gift Guide!

If you are looking for some delicious things to do, here are a few suggestions…

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Bristol Food & Drink: November 2024

As we ease ourselves from a fairly mild autumn into the festive and frosty vibes of winter, it’s important to have some things to look forward to as the nights draw in!

Read on for lists of special dining events, boozy festivals, and whether you’re ready for it or not, Christmas shenanigans.

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Bristol Food & Drink: October 2024

We’re properly into autumn now, and I for one can’t wait to hit up some cosy pubs and get merry at an Oktoberfest party or two. There are also lots of exciting new openings this month celebrating everything from the harvest to Day of the Dead , so make sure to add them to your list.

Let me know what you get up to over on the Threads or Instagram!

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Bristol Food & Drink: September 2024

That cold twang is in the air, we’re on the way out of summer already. Although I’m happy with slightly chillier evenings as long as the rain stays away – I’m more of a cosy corner person than a sunseeker anyway. Roll on the red wine and comfort stodge!

This month sees a bunch of Oktoberfest events, foodie festivals and a hoard of new openings, so get your stretchy trousers on, and let me know what you get up to over on the Threads or Instagram!

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A short break in: Nice

The French Riviera, it conjurs up quite a lot of images: turquoise seas, glamorous (rich) people, art nouveau, casinos, white linen trousers, and stripy beach umbrellas. I don’t count myself as rich or glamourous, so I was curious to see how much I’d enjoy a break on the Cote d’Azur.

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A short break in: Brixham

A few quick facts about Brixham to kick us off: it’s the fishing port with the largest haul in England (and 2nd largest in the UK after Peterhead in Scotland), it’s part of Torbay which is a UNESCO Global Geopark, it has its own pirate festival every May, and it was also the landing point for William of Orange in the 17th century before he went on to be crowned King William III.

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Bristol Food & Drink: August 2024

What a sweltering start to August! All I seem to be craving at the moment is seafood and Margaritas, which sounds fine and dandy until I remember what an expensive habit that would be. If anyone would like to do a prawns & margs deal for summer, I’ll be at the front of the queue.

As you’d expect for a month with (hopefully) good weather and a bank holiday, there are plenty of festivals, snazzy dinners and other fun events to keep yourself busy. Let me know what you end up going to over on Instagram or whatnot, I love being nosey!

Oh and if you find this roundup handy, you can choose to buy me a cuppa to show your appreciation if you like – I’m always chuffed when anyone does!

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A short break in: York

One of the UK’s most historic and best preserved cities, York is absolutely packed with things to do, whether you want to visit museums and medieval buildings, go on some ghost walks or just chill in some characterful pubs.

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Bristol Food & Drink: July 2024

There’s a lot to pack into this month, summer really is in full swing! Bristol’s flagship festivals are coming up, plus a couple of new ones, and there’s a bunch of new places for you to visit too. Read on and see what you fancy eating and drinking this month…

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Bristol’s Best Pub Gardens

We all know that any meal or drinks can be enhanced by a fantastic view. Luckily, with most of Bristol resting on a ridiculous gradient, impressive views over the city and beyond are not hard to come by. Sometimes though, it’s just nice to sit in a good pub garden and take in your surroundings, whether it be on a river bank, on a busy high street or up a behemoth hill. Continue reading Bristol’s Best Pub Gardens

Bristol Food & Drink: June 2024

Welcome to my favourite month, and not just because it’s my birthday month (cheap plug) but also because it’s usually the best for reliable beer garden days and barbecues.

There’s plenty to get your teeth into this month, from big beer festivals to a bunch of new restaurant and bar openings. Scroll on down to find out more…

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Bristol Food & Drink: May 2024

May has to be one of the best months – not only are there two bank holidays, but festival season is getting in full swing, alfresco spots are opening up and there’s a proper buzz in the air.

As you can tell from the mega guide below (honestly, I’d get a cuppa before you start reading), Bristol is ready to party this month!

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Bristol Food & Drink: March 2024

Welcome to March – let’s hope that it’s a drier month than February, or January! I’m still very much in the hearty food and cosy corners vibe, but more than ready to enjoy some blue skies

Read on to get tempted by special dinners, wine festivals, Mother’s Day events and more…

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Bristol Food & Drink: February 2024

My first events round-up of 2024, and it’s already a packed one!

It’s the first proper month of the year when we can start venturing out and making fun plans again, so read on for dinners, Valentine’s Day events, new openings and lots more.

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20 Underrated Pubs in Bristol

What makes a pub great? And what makes it underappreciated? Of course, both are heavily subjective, which is fine because this is a blog and not a newspaper or the BBC, so I get to be as partisan as I want.

Rather than be a list of ‘hidden gems’, I’ve instead decided to big up some pubs that I think don’t get the attention they derserve.

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Bristol’s Best Date Locations


Finally plucked up the courage to ask the object of your affection out for a drink? Or want to spoil your significant other?

Here are a few suggestions for your next date night, whether it’s a casual coffee, a slap-up dinner or a late night cocktail – all a bit special, not too noisy and with a nice atmosphere to allow you to have the perfect time with your beau. Happy smooching!

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Bristol’s Best Food & Drink Experiences

Not only is Bristol packed to the gills with amazing restaurants, bars and cafes, but there are also plenty of opportunities to learn from the experts or have a go at making something yourself!

Whether you want to learn how to make sushi or tell a Merlot from a Malbec, here are plenty of tasty experiences across the city…

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Bristol Food & Drink: December 2023

Hello from a misty and frosty corner of Bristol – it feels like the right time to say that I’m feeling suitably festive and excited by the prospect of lots of cheese, stodge, stouts and mulled beverages over the coming weeks.

There’s plenty going on across the city to get you in the party spirit, take a look below and let me know over on the socials (tweets or Insta) what you’re booking – or take a look at my Bristol Foodie Gift Guide for some present-buying inspiration.

There won’t be a guide in January as I always take that month off, but you can keep up to date with more food news from me on Twitter, Instagram or follow this blog on Facebook – I’ve also added some January events in below if you want to be get some stuff booked for 2024 (or buy as a gift).

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Bristol Food & Drink: November 2023

Never mind the wind and rain, we’ve got a jam-packed month of brilliant food and drink events lined up, and they’re almost all indoors!

From a retro ski lodge to wine festivals and a meal themed around the last night of the Titanic (!), there are plenty of weird and wonderful ways to spend your month. Let me know what you get up to!

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Oldies but goodies: Bristol institutions

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Empty plates at Poco (Credit: Alex Poulter)

It’s easy to get caught up with the latest openings and new exciting places (and there is plenty to be excited about at the moment), but I thought it was time to give some appreciation to the places that have kept me fed and watered with consistently brilliant fare since I moved to Bristol sixteen (bloody hell) years ago.

Let me know your favourite places on Twitter or Facebook, and I’ll add them in later!

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